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Anders Manga "Venus in Furs" by Anders Manga

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Exclusive European distribution for the album by the Charlotte-based band is Danse Macabre Records/Alive, whose chairman Bruno Kramm calls it “exciting, charismatic and unique.”

“We just released the album in January and it was a big surprise to see it take off so quickly in Europe,” says Anders. “‘Infinite Gaze to the Sun’ is our sixth album, but it’s the first to really take hold in Europe so we’re more than thrilled.”

DAC charts was founded in 1997 and cover genres ranging from rock music to alternative electronic. The rankings are established in a weekly poll of DJs and trend setters.

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"Anders Manga is the hottest goth-electro-crossover from the USA," said Danse Macabre chairman Bruno Kramm. "His exciting and charismatic visual style is complimented by a unique and charming musical vision. Danse Macabre is proud to add this extraordinary artist to its roster."

"Infinite Gaze to the Sun" is slated to release in early January and is Anders’ 6th full length album.

"It makes sense to be joining the Danse Macabre group in Europe," Anders said. "It is a company for artists run by artists so it’s the perfect situation for me. Bruno has toured the world in Das Ich for many years and has a wealth of experience and knowledge in all areas. There couldn’t be a better situation for me."

For more information on Anders Manga in Europe e-mail kontakt@dansemacabre.de or http://andersmanga.com/site/contact.

Find Danse Macabre Online at http://www.dansemacabre-group.com or MySpace
http://www.myspace.com/dansemacabregroup.

Find Anders Manga Online at http://www.andersmanga.com or MySpace http://www.myspace.com/andersmanga.

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Read the interview with Anders in the August ‘09 issue of Zillo Magazine.

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ZILLO: Instead of committing yourself to one musical direction, you combine electro, industrial, dark wave and gothic elements. Most listeners will be glad to see an artist who’s not limiting himself, while club promoters, festival organizers etc. often ask for either “electro”, “industrial” OR “gothic” bands. So far, has this decision been an advantage or disadvantage? Do you think that establishing the band would have been easier if you had limited yourself to one direction from the early days on?

ANDERS MANGA: Good question. Yes I’ve always been a misfit but I have to do what I do. I wouldn’t get any enjoyment out of being an imitator of another artist. I can’t write songs in a box under stipulations like that. It must suck to artists who have to think, “Well I can’t release this song because it sounds too dark” or “I can’t play that because it’s too electro”. Yes, I could pigeonhole myself and probably be more accepted but fuck that. That’s not being an artist, that’s being a tool. It’s a shame that everything has to fit into a label with some of these promoters. The scene would probably have a broader appeal if the business people and promoters would seek out and celebrate the unique. So many bands sound exactly the same now or you can hear their influences very obviously. I’m not saying I’m extremely unique or anything but I do pride myself in not sounding like everyone else.

ZILLO: You’ve been doing your stuff DIY for some years now. What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking care of everything (music, business, booking, distribution, promotion) yourself? I guess you still have a day job to do. How much time do you spend for the band?

ANDERS MANGA: I spend most of my time on the music itself. As for the business part, I very much believe in the punk rock do-it-yourself attitude. No one is ever going to give a damn about my music more than me. That is true for any songwriter. Having control of my direction and freedom to do whatever the hell I want is extremely rewarding. Business and politics ruin art, although it’s a necessary evil.

ZILLO: Due to the internet, digital distribution, MySpace etc., has promoting your band become easier in the recent years? Or has it even become harder due to the increasing number of new bands and the dying gothic magazine culture?

ANDERS MANGA: Well it’s never easy when you have thousands of bands out there all wanting the attention of a listener. However, a good online presence is essential now for any artist. Bands don’t have to worry too much about being in record stores anymore. It’s nice for the fans who like owning the physical product like me, but having your music available for digital download on your website is very important! Studies estimate one billion people worldwide will have Internet access this year and nearly 250 million households will have broadband. I get fans from places in the world where I had no idea they even liked this type of music. They then tell their friends and it just grows virally. 

ZILLO: You release albums very regularly while other bands take five years for one album. Would you say that you’re constantly writing songs, or do you also take breaks between production/recording processes? 

ANDERS MANGA: Writing songs is one of my main sources of stress relief. I’m always writing and if I feel good about it I will release it. My fans seem to appreciate getting new music regularly. Again, that is the freedom of being independent. You really don’t have to follow whatever the other bands or labels are doing.

ZILLO: When did you first get in contact with the gothic scene, and what fascinated you the most? How has your fascination developed over the years? 

ANDERS MANGA: My gateway drug was Bauhaus. Like so many bands from the 70’s mention The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, the big impression for me as a kid was Bauhaus in the movie, “The Hunger”. They sounded so dark and dynamic. Gary Numan, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Marc Bolan and Nick Cave were all big influences to me as well as a kid. 

I started playing in bands in my teens and early twenties but they just could never stay together. After some time off, home recording got more and more advanced. I took advantage of the technology and made my first album myself, “One Up for the Dying” recorded on my home computer in 2005. I made a profile on myspace and a few other networking sites with some free tracks. Suddenly, I was getting lots of mail from DJ’s saying that the tracks were going over great at their local club. People from all over the world were “friend requesting” me and saying they really liked the music. I was blown away. I had no idea it would just grow virally like that and reach so may people so quickly. At the time I wasn’t following too much of the modern industrial or goth scene. I was still listening to Specimen and Sex Gang Children so I wasn’t influenced by anything that was going on in 2005. The album was a very simple electronic album and I guess that’s what people liked about it. It was simple yet dark and melodic.

ZILLO: You have also been involved in directing, filming and composing (horror movie) soundtracks. How does this work differ from your work in the band? What are your favorite movies and movie soundtracks? 

ANDERS MANGA: My second love is definitely visual art. I am always excited to work on videos for my songs or contribute tracks to films. Another big influence on me as a child was John Carpenter’s “Halloween” soundtrack. Just brilliant music! I recently had the opportunity to contribute some music to a movie called “Beg” that stars Tony Moran, who played Michaels Myers in the original John Carpenter directed “Halloween”. Sharing the closing credits with his name is cool enough for me as a long time Horror fan.

ZILLO: Besides music, visuals seem to be a pretty important matter for Anders Manga. For reasons of economy, how difficult is it to realize the visual dreams you have in mind? Do you often have to limit yourself? If you had unlimited budget, what kind of visual concept would you want to realize? 

ANDERS MANGA: Budget can be a limitation, but it’s just a matter of trying to be as creative as possible, and use all the resources available. My friends are always willing to help or suggest a location. I’ve had several people write to tell me that the “At Dawn they Sleep” video reminds them of old British Hammer horror films. I wasn’t thinking that when I made it but it’s a great compliment to me since I have always been a Hammer fan. As for an ‘Unlimited Budget’, that’s a tough question. I guess I would start with my own trailer.

ZILLO: Sometime ago I read about the possibility of an Anders Manga DVD. Are there still any plans to release a DVD? 

ANDERS MANGA: Yes but every time I start preparing it, I think of something else I want to add. Once I shoot everything I’m going to shoot for the new album, “X’s & The Eyes”, I definitely plan to release it. Probably mid 2009.

ZILLO: I guess without a European label/distribution it must be really hard to find a booking agency in Europe. Nevertheless, are there any plans to tour in Europe in the near future? Other aims you want to achieve in the near future?

ANDERS MANGA: I do want to tour Europe. I haven’t talked with any agents yet though. I’m not sure why booking agents are concerned with labels/distribution since everything is available online now. I like that Europe still likes physical product if that is the case. In America CD’s have been having a hard time. Seems most people here are buying digitally now and filling their iPods and Zunes. I definitely want to play some of the festivals there. They look incredible.

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